Behind schedule Evoque sales pushes Jaguar Land Rover to work round the clock: 1,000 new jobs for UK

The Jaguar Land Rover plant at Halewood, UK will be moving on to a three shift, 24 hour routine to ensure quick availability and reduce waiting period for their newly launched Range Rover Evoque. Range Rover Evoque was launched in July 2011 and since then it has seen immediate success in global markets. In the past one year, the company has sold over 88,000 vehicles in 170 markets.

Jaguar Land Rover currently employs 4,500 workers at Halewood and will be adding 1,000 more production operators and supervisors to take care of round the clock working shifts and increased demand. 30,000 applications have been received for these 1,000 vacancies.

Range Rover Evoque and Land Rover Freelander 2 will both be pressed into 24 hour production from late tonight. Trials of these new shifts were conducted in July and were met with favor and hence the company has decided to introduce it on a permanent basis. Adding to their existing workforce and working 24 hour shift is something that will have a positive impact throughout the UK supply chain.

Range Rover Evoque is the smallest, lightest and most fuel efficient vehicle. It has been the recipient of over 120 global awards which include Top Gear Magazine Car of the Year, World Design Car of the Year and North American Truck of the Year.

Liverpool, UK: For the first time in Halewood’s 50 year history, Jaguar Land Rover’s 4,500-strong Halewood workforce will now work around the clock to meet strong global demand for the Range Rover Evoque. Since its launch in July 2011, the Range Rover Evoque has achieved worldwide sales success, with nearly 88,000 vehicles sold in more than 170 markets. In March this year, Jaguar Land Rover announced that Halewood would move to 24 hour production, and launched a recruitment campaign to hire 1000 new production operators, supervisors and engineers. These new recruits will manufacture both the Range Rover Evoque and updated Land Rover Freelander 2 models across three shifts, including a new night shift, which began at 21.30 this evening.

Halewood Operations Director, Richard Else, said: “Our new recruits have worked hard during their assessments and extensive induction training. Many have also worked a number of trial night shifts during July, to ensure we get off to a great start today. I am delighted to welcome our new colleagues as they come on-board to help us meet customer demand for the Range Rover Evoque and Land Rover Freelander. “Moving production to three shifts and working 24 hours a day will allow us to significantly reduce the time a customer has to wait for their new Range Rover Evoque.”

Des Thurlby, HR Director at JLR said: “With 4,500 employees, JLR Halewood has trebled its workforce in just three years – and the size of the workforce is now the highest it has been for 20 years. As well as creating new jobs, our on-going global success means we continue to have a positive economic impact in the North West and throughout the UK supply chain.”

All of JLR’s new Production Operators will also now receive up to a year of training which will lead to an Intermediate (NVQ Level 2) Apprenticeship.

“JLR is committed to investing in the skills and training of its workforce and many of the 1500 people recruited to launch the Range Rover Evoque in 2011 have already graduated with an Intermediate Apprenticeship,” added Des Thurlby. “We received more than 30,000 applications for these 1000 new roles and we are very fortunate that we were able to select such high calibre people for our new jobs.”

The Range Rover Evoque has gained critical acclaim achieving more than 120 global awards. Crowned Top Gear Magazine Car of the Year, World Design Car of the Year and North American Truck of the Year amongst others, the Range Rover Evoque continues to receive plaudits for its concept car looks, dynamic driving performance, class leading off-road skills and excellent cost of ownership.

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Sagar Patel

A first drive in a manual rickety old van was enough to pave the road forward for Sagar Patel. When not driving or riding, his dexterity shifts gear to voice passion through words via reviews, and news, all the while, closely monitoring updates from the auto industry.